Packaging for the extemporaneous preparation of drug products

Abstract

A connector for connecting two containers includes a first portion releasably secured to the neck of the first container and a second portion having an access opening. A closure member for sealing the access opening of the connector includes a cover for sealably closing the access opening, the cover being fixed to the connector so as to include a breakable point of attachment and a zone of weakness disposed on the periphery of the cover. The cover includes a tab disposed generally perpendicular to the cover and a strut angularly disposed between the tab and the cover such that the exertion of pressure substantially normal to the tab causes the cover to release from the connector at the zone of weakness and the rotation of the cover causes release of the cover from the connector at the breakable point of attachment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector for connecting two containers, at least one of said containers having a neck portion and an access opening, comprising: (a) an attachment portion fixedly connected to the neck of said one container;   (b) a connection portion connected to said attachment portion at one end and having an access opening at its other end;   (c) a, cover fixedly attached to said connection portion for sealably closing the access opening of said connection portion, said cover including a breakable point of attachment to said connection portion and a frangible zone of weakness disposed about the periphery of the cover;   (d) a tab member fixedly attached to and disposed generally perpendicular to said cover member; and   (e) a strut member fixedly connected to and disposed between said tab member and said cover member, said strut member including means for converting a force normal to said tab member to a force normal to said cover member such that the exertion of pressure substantially normal to the tab causes the cover to release from the connector at said frangible zone of weakness and the rotation of the cover causes release of the cover from the connector at the breakable point of attachment.   
     
     
       2. A connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said cover is unitary with said connector and said tab member and strut member are unitary with said cover member. 
     
     
       3. A connector as recited in claim 1 wherein the tab member is disposed off-center of the cover member. 
     
     
       4. A closure member for sealing a connector for a pair of containers, the connector being fixedly attached to one of said containers, said connector having an access opening comprising: (a) a cover fixedly attached to said connector for sealably closing the access opening of said connector, said cover including a breakable point of attachment to said connector and a frangible zone of weakness disposed about the periphery of the cover;   (b) a tab member fixedly attached to and disposed generally perpendicular to said cover member; and   (c) a strut member fixedly connected to and disposed between said tab member and said cover member, said strut member including means for converting a force normal to said tab member to a force normal to said cover member such that the exertion of pressure substantially normal to, the tab causes the cover to release from the connector at said frangible zone of weakness and the rotation of the cover causes release of the cover from the connector at the breakable point of attachment.   
     
     
       5. Packaging for the extemporaneous preparation of suspensions and solutions of an active solid product in a liquid, comprising: a first hermetically-sealed flask containing the liquid, said first flask having a threaded neck;   a second hermetically-sealed flask containing the solid, said second flask having at least one collar;   connection means for establishing communication between the two flasks to allow the liquid to pass from the first flask to the second flask, said connection means having a single part molded of plastic, the single part having: an internally threaded part adapted to be screwed on to the threaded neck of the first flask; and   a cap portion adapted to cap the second flask, said cap portion including an elastomeric stopper in said cap having an axial perforation therethrough to enable the liquid to flow from said first flask to said second flask, a valve for the perforation for closing said perforation, and a shoulder for snapping on the collar of said second flask;   a cover molded in a single piece with the connecting part, said cover hermetically closing said internally threaded part, and said cover having a surface external to said internally threaded part;   means for manually rupturing the cover application of a force parallel to the external surface of the cover, whereby to open the connecting means.     
     
     
       6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein said cover further comprises a bar having an end and a zone of weakness at said bar end and a strut, said strut having a breakable point of attachment for coupling said cover to said connecting means. 
     
     
       7. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the cover further comprises a strut, said strut having a zone of weakness, and a bar, said bar having breakable point of attachment for coupling said cover to said connecting means.